Fishing reel



Oct. 14, 1952 c. B. LIMPRIGHT FISHING REEL Filed Jan. 2, 1947 IN V EN TOR Jmpr/g/n ww flTTOR/VE Y Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATESv OFFICE- J V Q lasiasss, '.v f v F SHI L I Clifford B.Limpright, Marysville, Wash." I

- Application January 1947, said" No. 719,812-

3 Claims. (01. 242-841)..

" This invention relates to a fishing reeland an object of this invention is to provide'a fish- V 2 vice taken substantially Like reference numerals designata'like part throughout the'several'views.- f 1 v;. as The drawings, particularly Figs. '1, 2 and 17-,

on broken line: of

1 show". a fishing reel comprising ,two circular end ation and serving to connect the spool with the crank when the crank is rotated in the proper direction to wind in th'e'line and todisconnect' the'sp'ool from the crank'when a fish strikes and starts'to run with the"lin'e thereby avoiding reverserotation of th crank.

Another object is to provide a fishing reel hav ing a novel metering device connected therewith to make it easierfor a fisherman- .to let out the length of line'which he has determined is-most desirable tor the conditions under which nection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view' partly in top plan andpartlyin sectionof a fish line reel constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a. detached view in elevation showing the inner race of the circular frame plate that is positioned at the right in Fig. 1 and showing double ratchetclutch mechanism and drag mech-:

anism and metering devices that are carried by said frame plate. Fig. 3 is a detached view in elevation, with parts in-section, looking in the direction of bro-'- ken line 3-'-3 of Fig. 1 and showing adouble ratchet clutch member embodied in this inven-' tion.

uFig. i is a view in cross section of said clutch member looking in the direction of broken line l- -Jl of Fig. 3.

,Fig. 5 is an exploded'view in elevation of the clutch mechanism shown in Figs. 3- and 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation with parts in section taken on broken line 6+6 of Fig.5..

Fig. '7 is a view in elevation of this reel looking in the direction of broken line '|-1 oi Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a'iragmentaryview :in-elevation showing, a metering. or measuring device embodied in.

' nut 25;; .i M

this invention.

F 359 s; asecuonai vit tiara.attested;

and easily app..- entirom the following description taken in con-' and spacer bars [2 together and thus.- form jecting endportions of said shaft.,i8;-are =;j-o

frame "for a spool thatis .adapted'to receiv :a line. The spool comprisesa hollow-drum porfi tion I4' and two disc shaped end-plates,-,l5.;and I6. Aabracket plate" IT- by 1whichthe"reelparr be mountedon a fishing 'rod is secured-;to; -som of the spacer bars I2. 31,3

'A mounting shaft [8 extends axially through the spool, l5," I6, is rigidly secured to saidyspogl; andprojects from each-end thereof. -;The 'p1p-' naled in bearing members Win the frame pl tes wand-II.

1 Suitable click mechanism --Z- 0 ispreferably pro videdbetween the frame plate In and-:spooL I I5, shown at the left in Fig. 1. This click meeti anism can be of conventional construction d is not shown or described-1 in detail herein.v Thedoubleratchet-clutch mechanism and...

dra mechanism and metering devices to which this invention. is directed-are operatively con; nected with the frame ;member ll rand are d's posed between:said frame member ll and the end'plate l6:of the spool. Alsoa crank ,ZL- i SI- mounted on the outer-side pf the,frame mem ber I lfor turning the spool to wind. in ,a .lin The i double ratchet clutch mechanism is a ways-ready, forinstant engagement forthe-pu pose of windingin the fishlineu- Also thismech anismis always ready fori stant di engage; ment forv the purpose of letting ;the.;l in e;.v pulled out by the run of a fish without reverse rotating :the crank by which; the spool-is 'op ated.

. .The double ratchet clutch mechanism, show in Figs..1 to 6 inclusive, comprises a bearingupin or, stub shaft 22 journaledin an off-c ze'nter 'posi; tion in a bearing '23 in the end .frame} member II. The stub shaft 22 ispmvided withanput end portion, Fig. 5, which is, flattened, pre ably on two opposite sides, and which has 'sh I ders 24, and which isfthreaded as shown. *The crank 2| is shaped and recessed so tliat it cante slipped over the flattened en' fportion-of-the Theinner end portion of the stub shaft 22 is secured, as by a pin 26, Fig. 4, to a head portion which comprises a smaller bearing hub 21, a larger, bearing hub "28 and an end plate 29 of larger diameter than the hub 28.

The parts 22, 21, 28 and 23 can be one integral piece but for convenience in manufacture I prefer to make the end -plate 29 and stub shaft 22 separable trorn the twolhubs 21 iandf328, as shown;

in Fig. 41 The larger "hub 28 hasa'p'eripheral notch 30. The notch 30 is provided with a hottom which is non-concentric as respects the huh I 28 and which leaves said notch 33 deeper at one end than at the other. A tubular ratchet roller 3| is operatively disposed in the notch 30.

annular spur gear member 32 fits rotatively on the bearing hub 28 and has a cylindrical inner wall that can be engaged by the tubular -i'atchet roller 3|. The end plate 39 overlaps the notch 30 and" forms OIlBIiel'ld wall 10f said notch. =A ratchet wheel 33 is mounted for oscillating moven'fen't'on 'Lthev smaller bearin'gzhub .21 and forms an opposed end wall Jofthenotch :31]. Thusethe tiibular 'r atchetmoller 1-3:! risutrapped within the ridtch 30. pin :33 Tisxcarried iby the ratchet wheel #33 and projects :into the tubular ratchetroller 31-. The diameter ofthe bore in the tubula'r ratchet roller-3| is substantially greater than the diameter of' the pin 34 so that some lost mo.-'

tion is provided betwee'n'the roller 3| andpin 33. This allows'theftubul'ar roller 3 l :to' moveiradially an'engaged or disengaged position irelative to the annul r spur gear 32. .Atthesame time the pin 34 provides a connection between the ratchet wheel 33 and' th'e ratchet roller- 31.":- 1

The ratchet wheel 33 has peripheral ratchet teeth' 35 that-are engaged by a pawl35b The pawns pivotal-ly mounted on thefr'ame membe? by a pfivo't' 3'! and is yieldingly -urged agffiistthe ratchet wheel 33 by a spring 38, '1 r v the annular "spur gear 32 meshes with a fdtate the spool'in an unwinding direction, then" this unwinding rotation of the spool will rotate the"gearwhel-32 in acounterclockwise direction, Fig. '3. Whentliis occurs'rotationof the ratchet wheel -33 will be-stopped-by the pawl 38 and the pin 34 will hold the ratchet roller "3'l"- a'gainst the wall atthe deeper-end ofthe 'notchBIT, as shown atftheiright in Fig. '3. This will lock the parts 21, 28, 29.22 and 2-I against coufiterclockwise roream ng.- 3,'b1it'th'e gearwheel '32 will be free to turn counterclockwise without moving the ratchet'roller 3| ;into an engagedpofsitionybecause said "rollerf3l is 1held1 in the deeper end o1'fthenotchf 3'0 *by the "pin '34. Also the crank Zflj cannotf manually be rotated counterclockwise,

I7 and 3, because .the ratchet wheelff33, restrained lby .pawl 36, holds pin,34 .and.-. ratchet roller 3i, immovable against the. wall at the deeper end of the notch-30 thus blocking rotatiomin {this idirection of the drum Y2 8 and crank 21 connectedtherewith The pawl 36, being spring pressed against the '4 ratchet wheel 33 always exerts a slight drag or retarding action in opposition to clockwise rotation, Fig. 3, of this ratchet wheel. This drag action on ratchet wheel 33 is applied to the ratchet roller 3| through the pin 34 and always helps to insure instantaneous engagement of the ratchet roller 3! with the gearwheel 32 if the crank 2! is moved to windin the line. v :The'pinjy oibyiwhich't esmaue rz p is securedto "the spool "passes-through the end plate I6 and spur gear 39 as shown in Fig. 1.

' -One end portion of this pin 40 is positioned with- .in the. hollow drum M and is connected with a sleeve 4| that is slidable on the shaft 18. A

compression spring 42 yieldingly urges the sleeve 4| andpindflioutwardly. The other'end portion of "the pin 30' is positioned in engagement with i a crown ityipe ratchet drag disc 43 which is 1'0- tatively mounted on the :shaft i8 and has ratchet teeth-44 of the drag :disc 13.3 and rotate th'e dli g? teeth 44 -on the iface thereo f against which the p nfli u -ed @bviouslywhen the in one direction the gpin til williengage wi tl1;the-

discv :43 along with the 513001. Whensaid spool.

is rotated in the opposite direction :theflpin i fl ;.willclick'over the-teeth 44 without rotating 'the drag disc 43. .Inthe iuse of the reel the fishingtline 1 willrbe woundon the spool -l i-;-l'5-,i-B.-in azdirection such that when the line is being idrawniout.

as by the :pull of a fish,- the. dragdisc l3 .-will be rotated with the spool and .when :the;line is bein reeled the pin 43 :can; click 'over .theteeth of thedragrdisc lii. Y

.The periphery'of the dragdisc fllisengaged bywa :brake band A5 of any :suitalblei 'frictionImaterial. The :band 45 .has extensions aor llugsaflfii A gbrake ;=band rigid with its two end portions. tightening screw 41-.extends :through the slug-e146. Arfixedi'oollar'liii isisecuredto-the screw lilionone sideof the two :lugs' d6.

blunt-wedge and adapted to l'fit'dnto aisimilarly shaped recessiin :the adjacent lug 2'46." The 5133331158? mechanism the :line tcarr ying Isponl .is rotated :to' I wind in the .line by turning the crank-.21 a clockwise direction as respects 'the. showing :in

Fig. -7. When the crank member Ql-TiS ithus turned in a clockwise direction, as irespects the showing in :Fig. 7., thestub-fshaft Z2 and parts 21:, 28 and 29 which areifixe'dly connected-xthere-i with, :see Figs. 4 Land r5,fwi1l ibe Iro'tated. in the samedirec'tion. When parts 21, i22,":"=2 1,' 2'8 and" 29 are thus rotated clockwise as respects the showing in Figs. 3. :"6 and 7;.ithe .zratch'et roller 3I""will be rrelatively zrnove'd toward the more; shallow end of the notch 39 and warlock the annular 'sp'ur-gear f32"to' the r other rritating parts.

This will provide a dr-ivi1 1g'" connection' to dle spool Ni -13 1 6 rmr'ough the small spur g'ear 39 which is secured to'the spool member 13 and meshes with the annular gearwhel 32. a reverse" the "spool will be 'rotatd in a direotio to the fdi'rection-iof rotation of the "crank 'will be A nut =59 is threaded onto :the:screw fll- -on the xotherlside org-the lugs- The :nut -49 is docked "to: the. .:adjacenti lug= rotate o ated s n h nqusl w th the? 1 1 7 111? 285 en iflf-j uej o e a emen ;o. f thejpfi 3 -f fi r t het; roller 3 land the teeth or this' rat'chet wheel' willf click over the pawl 36. The drag'of' the pawl 36-on theratchet wheel 33 will exert-'2. li htpressure through-1thefpin34 that will tend" to hold the ratchet roller 3| in an engaged position as long, as the.,crank,.is. being turned in the required direction to wind in the line.

. locking the ratchet wheel 33 against further reverse rotation and moving the ratchet roller 3| into an unlocked position. This leaves the annular spur gear 32 free to rotateon the hub 28 as the fish runs with the line. Thusthere will be no reverse rotation of the crank 2| when a fish strikes and starts to run withthe line and this will be true irrespective of whether the crank is stationary or is being rotated in the act of winding in the 'line at the time the fish strikes. In either instance the quick jerk or pull of the fish unlocks the ratchet roller and allows the fish to run with the line.

The double clutch mechanism thus provides a simple, inexpensive and very reliable means for interconnecting the crank 2| with the spool l4, l5, I6 in such a manner that rotation of the crank in one direction will always rotate the spool and wind in the line while at the same time a pull or jerk on said line can always unlock the ratchet roller 3| and allow unwinding movement of the spool without reversely rotating the crank2l.

A metering device to make it easier for the user of this reel to determine the amount of line he unreels is provided. This metering device, Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9, comprises a metering disc 52 mounted in the upper peripheral portion of thev frame member H on a bearing member 53. The circumferential portion of the metering disc 52 can be numbered, as shown in Fig. 2, or it can be otherwise marked so that the number of revolutions of this disc can be oberved and counted as the line is being payedout or wound in. A spur wheel 54 is secured to the metering disc 52 in a position adjacent the periphery of the drum disc IS. A lug 55 on the drum disc |6 is positioned so that it will engage with a tooth of the spur wheel 54 and advance the metering disc one step at each revolution of the line carrying drum. A brake member 56 supported by a spring 51 contacts the circumference of the metering disc 52 with sufiicient force to prevent overtravel or accidental displacement of this disc 52. A retaining plate 58, shown in Figs. 2 and 9 and partially broken away in Fig. 8 holds the disc 52 and spur wheel 54 in place. If the spur wheel 54 has five teeth, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, then the metering disc 52 will be turned one revolution for each five revolutions of the line carrying drum. Obviously this ratio can be varied at will. The user can keep a mental record of the length of line he has out by counting the number of turns of the metering disc 52. Thus if he finds by trial that with a certain number of turns of line out he quickly and easily an we: a n r'g fif f k si ha he can if he has out a greater or a less number of turns of line, he always can, by'obs'ervingthe metering disc 52, count out the cdrrectlen'gth' The drag' rriechanism operates inan obviousf manner; When the spool |4,- |5, |6 is rotating in 7 one direction to let out line this drag mechanism will always be operative. When this spool is rotating in the. other direction to'wind'fin line the pin Mi .will click over the ;1jatch 'et"dis.c l3; and the drag mechanism willfjjbe -irioperative.f Thebrake force applied by this drag can be very varied by adjustment oftlie screwflQ j -1 5 Obviously changes in this invention can be m dewithin the scope of the following claims. "Iclaim: f "f "1. A fishing reel comprising two relatively rigid spaced apart end plates; a spool rotatively supported between said end plates; astub shaft journaled in and extending through one of said end plates; a crank member on the outer end portion of said stub shaft; driving gear means interconnecting said spool and said stub shaft;

said driving gear means including a gearwheel rotatively supported on said stub shaft; a roller ratchet connecting said gearwheel with said stub shaft; a ratchet wheel rotatively mounted on said stub shaft; a pawl pivotally mounted on theend plate adjacent said ratchet wheel and engaging said ratchet wheel preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel in one direction; and

means connecting said ratchet wheel with the roller in said roller ratchet for releasing said roller ratchet, when turning movement of said ratchet wheel is stopped by said pawl, whereby when said spool is being turned in one direction to wind in a line a jerk on said line can reversely rotate said spool and draw out the line without rotating said crank.

2. A fishing reel comprising two relatively rigid spaced apart end plates; a spool rotatively supported between said end plates; a stub shaft journaled in and extending through one of said end plates; a crank member on the outer end portion of said stub shaft; drum means rigid with said stub shaft; a gearwheel rotatively mounted on said drum means; roller ratchet means including a tubular roller operatively disposed between said gearwheel and said drum means and movable between an engaging and a disengaging position relative to said gearwheel and said drum means; a ratchet wheel rotatively mounted on said drum means alongside of said gear wheel; a'spring pressed pawl carried by one of said-end plates engaging said ratchet wheel and stopping rotation of said ratchet wheel in one direction; a pin on said ratchet wheel loosely engaged within said ratchet roller controlling movement of said roller between an engaged and a disengaged position; and means providing a driving connection between said gearwheel and said spool, said ratchets providing means whereby'when said spool is being turned by said crank in one direction to wind in a line a jerk on said line can reversely rotate said spool and draw out the line without reversely rotating the crank.

3. A fishing reel comprising two relatively rigid spaced apart end plates; a spool rotatively supported between said end. plates; a stub shaft journaled in and extending through one of said end plates; a crank member on the outer end tending into the opening in said tubular roller,

the iopeningin thevirollerbeing larger than said 15 J 485,635

pin to provide lost motion between: the. pin and the roller; a pawl stopping said ratchet WheeI against rotation in .one direction; said roller being vmovedinto reieasedposition by-the s'top-, ping of said ratchet wheel by said pawl-and means forming a driving connection between 8w said. -gearwhee1 and said spool, .said ratchets providing means whereby when ,said'..-spojo1 .i s beingturnedhy said crank in one direction to wind in a; line ajerk ionsaid line can reversely rotatesaid spoolv and draw out the'line without reversely rotating the crank. Q

. CLIFFORD B. it

QnE nRENoEs CITED.

The following-references .are of record in the fileofthispatenti? H I r" PATENTS e 1 JiU ST N b r 1 e I D e Lake Nov. 8,1892 41,554,786 Case Sept. 1222 1925 1,765,903 Case .Junef24, 1930 1,836,755 [Hirsch Dec. 15, 1931. 2,089,031 MacDonald Aug. 3,' 19.37 2,219,322 King Oct. 29,1940

Bardon Dec. '5; 1914.4 7 

